Conversations with the Curator The Magnes pioneered interest in the U.S. for the material culture and history of North African Jewry, expanding the “canon” of Jewish culture and highlighting the essential history of the Jews in the lands of Islam over the centuries. Recently, we have added to our holdings from this region with a generous gift from Keren T. Friedman, a scholar, photographer and collector with special knowledge of the Jewish community on the island of Djerba, Tunisia. Friedman’s gift includes jewelry made by Jews still worn on special occasions such as weddings and religious holidays. This new addition to the collection represents our commitment to enhance the offerings of the University of California to the community of scholars by bridging material and literary, Jewish and Islamic cultures. The Curator of The Magnes Collection, Francesco Spagnolo, spoke with Friedman about her special collection. FS: How did you become interested in Djerba? KF: I hadn’t known anything about this group of North African Jews before I inadvertently stumbled across them in 1973 during my days as a traveler exploring Islamic countries. The Jews of Djerba are the last example in all of North Africa of vibrant Jewish village life in a predominantly Islamic environment. I started collecting out of concern that they might soon need to exit Tunisia altogether because of political and economic reasons. It was also a labor of love to document aspects of their unique culture on the island through photography and writing.
PHOTO BY K.T. FRIEDMAN
FS: What is your favorite item among the ones you are donating? KF: The sparkle of the large pieces and the tinkling sound the jewelry makes as the women walk is most captivating. However, it is the headband with amulets worn by a baby boy on his brit milah that is particularly precious to me. The wearing of the headband, by the way, is a custom shared by both Jews and Muslims. FS: What prompted you to give select items from your collection to The Magnes? KF: When I decided to find a home for part of my collection, I looked for a place that I could trust, and I knew The Magnes was a museum of very high standards. When I met with you, I was so intrigued by your description of how the new Magnes is going to be more than a mere museum, but a place where scholars and students from all over the world could interact with the holdings on site and online. Finally, the fact that The Magnes is now a partner with the University of California made me confident that more people will be able to benefit from what I have learned. I hope that this is just the beginning of our relationship.